Director of Life Issues and Ministry

Job Description

In response to the Gospel call to uphold the dignity of every human life and in recognition of the pastoral responsibility of the Church to be a prophetic voice in society, the Archdiocese of Washington has created an Office of Life Issues and Ministry. This Office will be led by the Director of Life Issues and Ministry, who will be tasked with serving as a unifying and strategic resource in the coordination of support to pastors, parish communities, Catholic faithful, and organizations within the archdiocese in their mission to defend life from conception to natural death including, but not limited to, issues of abortion, euthanasia, end of life, physician assisted suicide, and the death penalty. This role is within the Secretariat for Evangelization and Synodal Renewal, will report to the Executive Director of Social Justice, and will coordinate with other archdiocesan departments including the Office of Justice and Peace, Youth Ministry, Catholic Schools as well as with Catholic Charities. It will also oversee the work of Project Rachel within the Archdiocese of Washington.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Director for Life Issues and Ministry will lead Parish Advocacy through the following:

• Support Parish and Archdiocesan Life Ministries by providing the following:
o Provide training, homily helps, liturgical resources, pastoral guidance, and toolkits on life issues.
o Assist in establishing or strengthening parish and diocesan pro-life ministries.
o Offer workshops for clergy and lay leaders on life ethics and pastoral care.
• Education and Awareness
o Develop educational campaigns to promote respect for life at all stages and the dignity of the human person, with a particular emphasis on issues of abortion, euthanasia, end of life, physician assisted suicide, and the death penalty.
o Equip schools and religious education programs with age-appropriate materials.
o Host archdiocesan conferences, speaker series, and digital content to raise awareness.
o Lead the organization of the yearly March for Life Mass and activities within the Archdiocese of Washington.
• Public Witness and Advocacy
o Coordinate participation in local, state, and national pro-life events (e.g., March for Life, 40 Days for Life).
o Coordinate a Day of Advocacy.
o Partner with the Maryland Catholic Conference and USCCB on legislative priorities related to life.
o Promote non-partisan civic engagement rooted in Catholic social teaching and doctrine.
• Pastoral Outreach and Accompaniment
o Provide compassionate pastoral support for women and families in crisis pregnancies in overseeing and supporting Project Rachel within the Archdiocese of Washington.
o Supervise the Coordinator of Project Rachel and provide support in offering healing retreats and clergy trainings.
o Partner with ministries offering post-abortion healing, hospice care, and support for people with disabilities.
o Ensure that those affected by injustice and violence find healing in the Church.
• Establish the Archdiocesan Committee for Life to serve as ambassadors for life across the Archdiocese of Washington:
o Represent the clergy, ethnic, cultural, generational, and geographical diversity of the archdiocese.
o Establish a committee for Life in each Deanery across the archdiocese.
o Advise the Office of Life Issues and Ministry on strategic priorities and help implement initiatives.
o Serve as liaisons to parishes, schools, partner organizations, and communities.
o Assist in planning diocesan events and mobilizing grassroots support.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Candidate must be a practicing Catholic, have excellent knowledge of the faith and life issues, and exhibit complete orthodoxy in word and witness of life.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing is essential along with excellent organizational and people skills.
• Reliable transportation required to visit archdiocesan parish locations.

Education and Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Catechesis, Religious Education or Theology required.
• Experience in Catholic advocacy, with a particular emphasis on Life Issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, end of life, physician assisted suicide, and the death penalty
• Experience in public speaking on behalf of Catholic causes, a plus.
• 3 years of experience in leadership at either the parish or diocesan level.
• Bilingual English/Spanish verbal and written skills required.
• Skills with MS Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint required

Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, printers and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, bend, use hands to handle documents, type on a keyboard and reach with hands and arms.
• Employee must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Regular full-time employee (40 hours/week); evening and weekend hours may be required.

About the Employer

https://adw.org/